Role of Self-Trapped Excitons in the Broadband Emission of Lead-Free Perovskite-Inspired CuAgBiI.

The perovskite-inspired CuAgBiI (CABI) absorber shows promise for low-toxicity indoor photovoltaics. However, the carrier self-trapping in this material limits its photovoltaic performance. Herein, we examine the self-trapping mechanism in CABI by analyzing the excited-state dynamics of its absorption band at 425 nm, which is responsible for the self-trapped exciton emission, using a combination of photoluminescence and ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopies.

Unraveling an Alternative Mechanism in Polymer Self-Assemblies: An Order-Order Transition with Unusual Molecular Interactions between Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Polymer Blocks.

Polymer self-assembly leading to cooling-induced hydrogel formation is relatively rare for synthetic polymers and typically relies on H-bonding between repeat units. Here, we describe a non-H-bonding mechanism for a cooling-induced reversible order-order (sphere-to-worm) transition and related thermogelation of solutions of polymer self-assemblies. A multitude of complementary analytical tools allowed us to reveal that a significant fraction of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic repeat units of the underlying block copolymer is in close proximity in the gel state.

Intracellular Dynamics of Extracellular Vesicles by Segmented Trajectory Analysis.

The analysis of nanoparticle (NP) dynamics in live cell studies by video tracking provides detailed information on their interactions and trafficking in the cells. Although the video analysis is not yet routinely used in NP studies, the equipment suitable for the experiments is already available in most laboratories. Here, we compare trajectory patterns, diffusion coefficients, and particle velocities of NPs in A549 cells with a rather simple experimental setup consisting of a fluorescence microscope and openly available trajectory analysis software.

Correction: Addressing challenges in the removal of unbound dye from passively labelled extracellular vesicles.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1NA00755F.].

Addressing challenges in the removal of unbound dye from passively labelled extracellular vesicles.

Studies of extracellular vesicles (EVs), their trafficking and characterization often employ fluorescent labelling. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid thus far to a thorough evaluation of the purification of EVs after labelling, although the presence of an unbound dye may severely compromise the results or even lead to wrong conclusions on EV functionality. Here, we systematically studied five dyes for passive EV labelling and meticulously compared five typical purification methods: ultracentrifugation (UC), ultracentrifugation with discontinuous density gradient (UCG), ultrafiltration (UF), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and anion exchange chromatography (AEC).

Phototoxicity of BODIPY in long-term imaging can be reduced by intramolecular motion.

For long-term live-cell fluorescence imaging and biosensing, it is crucial to work with a dye that has high fluorescence quantum yield and photostability without being detrimental to the cells. In this paper, we demonstrate that neutral boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based molecular rotors have great properties for high-light-dosage demanding live-cell fluorescence imaging applications that require repetitive illuminations. In molecular rotors, an intramolecular rotation (IMR) allows an alternative route for the decay of the singlet excited state (S) via the formation of an intramolecular charge transfer state (CT).

Assembly of Bleomycin Saccharide-Decorated Spherical Nucleic Acids.

Glyco-decorated spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) may be attractive delivery vehicles, emphasizing the sugar-specific effect on the outer sphere of the construct and at the same time hiding unfavorable distribution properties of the loaded oligonucleotides. As examples of such nanoparticles, tripodal sugar constituents of bleomycin were synthesized and conjugated with a fluorescence-labeled antisense oligonucleotide (AON). Successive copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne and strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloadditions (SPANC) were utilized for the synthesis.

Structure and Dynamics of Thermosensitive pDNA Polyplexes Studied by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

Combining multiple stimuli-responsive functionalities into the polymer design is an attractive approach to improve nucleic acid delivery. However, more in-depth fundamental understanding how the multiple functionalities in the polymer structures are influencing polyplex formation and stability is essential for the rational development of such delivery systems. Therefore, in this study the structure and dynamics of thermosensitive polyplexes were investigated by tracking the behavior of labeled plasmid DNA (pDNA) and polymer with time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).

Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy Reveals Fine Structure and Dynamics of Poly(l-lysine) and Polyethylenimine Based DNA Polyplexes.

Structural dynamics of the polyethylenimine-DNA and poly(l-lysine)-DNA complexes (polyplexes) was studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy using the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. During the formation of the DNA polyplexes, the negative phosphate groups (P) of DNA are bound by the positive amine groups (N) of the polymer. At N/P ratio 2, nearly all of the DNA's P groups are bound by the polymer N groups: these complexes form the core of the polyplexes.

Difference in the core-shell dynamics of polyethyleneimine and poly(l-lysine) DNA polyplexes.

Electrostatic polymer-DNA complexes (polyplexes) have been widely investigated for DNA delivery, and remarkable differences in transfection efficacy have been seen among the materials. For example, polyethyleneimine (PEI) mediates DNA transfection more effectively than poly(l-lysine) (PLL). Biophysical properties of the polyplexes may explain their different properties in gene delivery.

Microphase mechanism of "superquenching" of luminescent probes in aqueous solutions of DNA and some other polyelectrolytes.

A new approach in terms of microphase model of aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes is proposed for explanation of a very strong quenching of luminescent probes ("superquenching") in these solutions. This phenomenon is used in literature for creation of extremely sensitive chemical and biosensors and was attributed predominantly to efficient energy or electron transfer. Microphase approach considers this phenomenon in terms of local concentrations of both the luminescent compound and of the quencher in microphase, formed by DNA and other polyelectrolytes, which can be several (4-10) orders of magnitude greater than their apparent concentrations in solution.